#ThisDayInHistory: On This Day In 1942, The Voice Of America Began Broadcasting.

On this day in 1942, Voice of America, the official external radio and television service of the United States government, began broadcasting with programs aimed at areas controlled by the Axis powers.

Voice of America, also known as the VOA is a U.S. government-funded international multimedia Agency which serves as the United States federal government’s official institution for non-military, external broadcasting, the largest U.S. international broadcaster.

The VOA produces digital, TV, and radio content in more than 40 languages which it distributes to affiliate stations around the globe.

It is primarily viewed by foreign audiences, so VOA programming has an influence on public opinion abroad regarding the United States and its leaders.

The VOA was established in 1942, and the VOA charter (Public Laws 94-350 and 103-415) was signed into law in 1976 by President Gerald Ford.

The charter contains its mission “to broadcast accurate, balanced, and comprehensive news and information to an international audience”, and it defines the legally mandated standards in the VOA journalistic code.

VOA is headquartered in Washington DC and overseen by the U.S. Agency for Global Media, an independent agency of the U.S. government.

Funds are appropriated annually by Congress under the budget for embassies and consulates.

In 2016, VOA broadcast an estimated 1,800 hours of radio and TV programming each week to approximately 236.6 million people worldwide with about 1,050 employees and a taxpayer-funded annual budget of US$218.5 million.

Some commentators consider Voice of America to be a form of propaganda.

In response to the request of the United States Department of Justice that RT register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, Russia’s Justice Ministry labeled Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty as foreign agents in December 2017.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY IS A PRODUCTION OF Jay101.9fm